蒙古冰草MwMYB4基因功能鉴定

MwMYB4基因是从蒙古冰草中克隆得到的MYB类转录因子家族成员之一。该研究以转MwMYB4基因的拟南芥后代为材料,通过在干旱和低温胁迫下对转基因植株进行表型分析、理化指标测试和分子鉴定,分析并验证MwMYB4基因的功能。结果显示:(1)蒙古冰草MwMYB4基因已成功整合到转基因拟南芥T_1代的基因组中并实现转录水平的表达。(2)转基因拟南芥T_2代植株在干旱胁迫条件下,转基因植株叶片枯黄程度较轻,相对电导率较野生型变化幅度低,脯氨酸含量明显高于野生型对照,且MwMYB4基因的表达量随干旱胁迫时间延长而增加。(3)在低温胁迫条件下,转基因拟南芥叶片的枯白程度明显低于野生型,且MwMYB4基因的表达量随低温胁迫时间增加而增加。研究表明,过量表达蒙古冰草MwMYB4基因能够提高转基因拟南芥对干旱和低温的耐受性,该基因可能在干旱胁迫和低温胁迫调控机制中发挥调控作用,可作为改良农作物和其他牧草抗旱、抗寒性的重要候选基因。     

陆地棉GhCDPK1基因响应干旱胁迫的功能初探

钙依赖性蛋白激酶(CDPKs)是一类重要的钙信号感受蛋白和响应蛋白,在植物干旱、低温、盐碱等非生物胁迫应答中起着重要的调控作用。为探讨陆地棉GhCDPK1基因在干旱胁迫下所起的作用,该研究利用实时荧光定量PCR技术分析了PEG模拟干旱胁迫下该基因的表达量,发现GhCDPK1基因受干旱胁迫诱导。通过构建植物表达载体pCAMBIA2300-GhCDPK1,采用农杆菌介导的叶盘法转化模式植物烟草,发现干旱胁迫下转基因植株保水能力明显高于野生型植株,叶绿素、脯氨酸、可溶性蛋白含量及POD、SOD活性也高于野生型植株,而丙二醛含量低于野生型植株。研究结果表明,GhCDPK1基因作为正向调控因子响应干旱胁迫诱导,过表达GhCDPK1基因可以使植株积累更多的渗透调节物质、增强抗氧化系统酶的活性和维持细胞膜的稳定性来提高植物抵御外界干旱胁迫的能力。     

水稻胁迫相关基因OsPM1启动子的克隆与分析

依据NCBI数据库OsPM1的序列信息,采用PCR技术扩增获取OsPM1的2 100bp的启动子序列。利用PLACE预测启动子的顺式作用元件分析表明,启动子内含有大量与胁迫相关的顺式作用元件,主要有ABA响应相关元件、脱水响应元件、低温响应元件、热激响应元件和转录因子结合元件。构建OsPM1的启动子和GUS基因融合表达载体,转入拟南芥。组织化学染色分析结果显示,非生物胁迫处理前,幼苗中GUS基因表达水平很低;干旱、低温、高盐等胁迫处理后,GUS基因表达量显著升高。研究表明,OsPM1的启动子能够显著提高在干旱、高盐和低温处理后下游基因的表达水平。     

拟南芥高迁移率族蛋白B（AtHMGB）族基因启动子的转录激活功能分析

为了解高迁移率族蛋白B族（high mobility group protein B,HMGB）基因调控植物响应低温、高盐和干旱等外源胁迫的表达调控方式, 本文克隆了拟南芥AtHMGB前5个家族成员的启动子区域（PAtHMGB1,PAtHMGB2,PAtHMGB3,PAtHMGB4和PAtHMGB5）.运用基因重组技术将其分别替换表达载体上35S启动子区域获得重组表达载体,利用农杆菌介导法侵染烟草获得稳定表达的转基因烟草. 运用实时定量PCR检测上述5种启动子的转基因烟草,观察在外源胁迫（低温、高盐和干旱）处理前后gusA基因的表达差异,同时检测转基因烟草种子在不同外源胁迫条件下的萌发状况. 检测结果证实,在低温胁迫下,PAtHMGB2,PAtHMGB3和PAtHMGB4正调控gusA基因的表达,而在干旱或盐胁迫下,gusA基因的表达被PAtHMGB2和PAtHMGB3负调控. 种子萌发结果表明,在干旱胁迫下,PAtHMGB2调控下的转基因烟草比野生型烟草萌发及生长迟缓|在低温胁迫下,PAtHMGB2调控的转基因烟草长势明显强于野生型. 本研究克隆了拟南芥AtHMGB家族前5个成员启动子,分析其生物学功能发现,PAtHMGB2在响应低温和干旱胁迫方面效果尤为显著.     

低温胁迫对转新疆雪莲sikRbcs2基因烟草光合作用的影响

研究分布于新疆的雪莲(Saussurea involucrata)中的sikRbcs2基因在低温条件下对植物光合作用的影响,以16、10、6、4℃温度梯度处理非转基因型和转sikRbcs2基因型烟草,每个温度处理72 h,比较研究其叶绿素荧光特性和光合特性。实验分析结果:低温胁迫下,转基因型烟草叶片叶绿素a(Chla)、叶绿素b(Chlb)、叶绿素a+b(Chla+Chlb)、类胡萝卜素(Car)含量都显著高于非转基因型烟草。叶绿素荧光参数分析:低温胁迫下,转基因烟草PSⅡ最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)、q P(光化学猝灭系数)、ETR(电子传递效率)都显著或极显著高于非转基因型,光合参数测定:随着低温胁迫程度的加剧,转基因烟草和非转基因型烟草净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)、蒸腾速率(Tr)、胞间CO_2浓度(Ci)总体都呈下降趋势,但转基因烟草的净光合速率有一个明显的动态变化,先急剧下降后有一个稳定上升的趋势。通过对生长指标的测定发现:在低温处理后和恢复后转基因烟草生物量的积累都显著高于非转基因型烟草。研究结果表明:转新疆雪莲sikRbcs2基因的烟草在低温条件下具有较高的Fv/Fm、q P、ETR,对光合机构的损伤小,降低了低温胁迫效应,提高了烟草在低温胁迫条件下的耐受性。     

拟南芥AtCIPK23基因对烟草抗旱能力的影响

为了探索拟南芥AtCIPK23基因对烟草耐旱能力的影响,对3个转AtCIPK23基因阳性纯合株系KA13、KA14和KA44与野生型烟草K326（对照）进行了自然干旱处理,测定离体叶片的失水速率、叶绿素含量、相对电导率、脯氨酸和可溶性糖含量,并分析了转基因及野生型材料对活性氧的清除能力,对活性氧清除基因NtSOD、NtCAT和NtAPX及干旱胁迫相关基因NtDREB、NtLEA5和NtCDPK2的表达量进行检测。结果表明：（1）转基因烟草离体叶片的失水速率明显低于K326;自然干旱7 d后,野生型K326出现了明显的干旱胁迫症状;干旱7 d进行复水后,转基因株系的复水存活率明显高于K326。（2）转基因株系中的叶绿素、脯氨酸及可溶性糖含量比K326显著提高,电导率则明显降低。（3）野生型烟草K326中H₂O₂的积累量明显高于3个转基因株系,转基因株系中ROS清除机制的3个关键基因NtSOD、NtCAT和NtAPX被诱导上调表达。（4）抗旱相关基因NtDREB、NtLEA5和NtCDPK2仅在转基因烟草中受干旱诱导。研究认为,AtCIPK23基因可能具有提高植物抗旱能力的功能。     

大豆E3泛素连接酶基因GmAIRP1的同源克隆及在烟草中的功能鉴定

E3泛素连接酶在植物抵御高盐及干旱等非生物胁迫过程中发挥重要作用。本研究克隆获得大豆E3泛素连接酶基因GmAIRP1,该基因cDNA全长为642 bp,编码213个氨基酸。蛋白结构域分析表明,GmAIRP1具有典型的RING-finger结构域。系统进化树分析表明,GmAIRP1与蒺藜苜蓿MtAIRP1同源性最高,亲缘关系最近。表达分析显示,GmAIRP1可被高盐、干旱和ABA诱导表达,并在胁迫1 h或3 h时表达量达到最大。抗逆表型分析表明,GmAIRP1转基因烟草在高盐和干旱胁迫21 d后,生长状态优于野生型,提高了植株对高盐和干旱胁迫的耐受性。生理指标测定结果显示,在高盐和干旱胁迫下,GmAIRP1转基因烟草的POD和CAT活性提高,整体高于对照,MDA含量始终低于对照。以上研究结果表明,Gm AIRP1能够通过激活抗氧化酶活性、提高渗透调节物质的积累来增强植物抵御高盐和干旱胁迫的能力,在植物响应高盐和干旱胁迫中发挥正调控作用。     

过量表达菊花DmDREBa基因提高转化烟草耐低温能力

各种环境因素,如干旱、高盐、激素和低/高温等非生物胁迫对植物的生长发育造成很大影响。DREB转录因子在植物抵抗非生物胁迫中起到关键作用。本研究通过根癌农杆菌介导的叶盘转化法将菊花DmD REBa基因导入烟草中并进行了耐低温能力分析。研究利用PCR的方法鉴定出了43株转基因阳性植株。随机选取其中9株转基因植株,有7株在RNA转录水平能够表达。Southern杂交检测表明,DmD REBa基因以1~3个拷贝形式随机插入到烟草基因组中。胁迫处理结果表明,DmD REBa基因明显增强了转基因烟草抵抗低温能力。通过叶片上下表皮气孔密度检测,发现转基因烟草的蒸腾失水量远远低于对照野生型。进一步对低温胁迫下转基因烟草的丙二醛含量进行测定分析,发现转基因烟草丙二醛含量比野生型烟草低22.29%。综上结果表明,DmD REBa基因能够提高转基因烟草对低温的耐受能力,为菊花DREB转录因子的深入研究提供理论依据,并为进一步解析菊花DREB基因功能奠定基础。     

干旱和低温胁迫影响烟草幼苗海藻糖代谢的差异比较

为了明确海藻糖代谢在干旱和低温胁迫下的响应及其差异,以及海藻糖在烟草耐旱和耐冷性中的作用,选用烟草品种云烟203幼苗为实验材料,通过对烟草幼苗进行干旱和4℃低温胁迫处理,研究叶片中海藻糖含量及代谢相关酶(海藻糖-6-磷酸合成酶TPS、海藻糖-6-磷酸磷酸酶TPP、海藻糖酶THase)活性及基因表达变化情况。结果表明,在干旱和低温胁迫下,海藻糖含量表现出先升高后降低趋势,均在处理2 d时海藻糖积累达到最大,且干旱胁迫下海藻糖含量高于低温胁迫。TPS、TPP活性在干旱和低温胁迫下先升高后降低,且干旱高于低温;THase活性在干旱和低温胁迫下均不断升高,低温下的THase活性高于干旱。TPS、TPP、THase基因在干旱下的表达量均高于0 d对照,低温下低于0 d对照。以上结果表明,干旱和低温胁迫均能促使烟草体内海藻糖的积累,干旱更能诱导相关基因的表达、相关酶活性及海藻糖含量的升高,表明海藻糖对干旱响应更敏感。     

水稻PHD-finger转录因子基因OsMsr16增强耐盐性的可能性研究

Os Msr16(Oryza sativa L.multi-stress-responsive gene 16)是一个新的水稻植物同源结构域(PHD)-finger家族转录因子基因。之前研究显示,Os Msr16受到低温、高温和干旱胁迫的诱导表达。本研究中,q RT-PCR分析表明Os Msr16同样受到盐胁迫的诱导表达,推测该基因可能参与植物在高盐胁迫下的生理调控。苗期盐处理条件下,与对照相比,过表达Os Msr16的转基因水稻植株叶片失绿面积较少,存活率更高。盐胁迫条件下,转基因植株中积累更高含量的脯氨酸和可溶性糖,而丙二醛含量和双氧水含量明显降低。转基因植株中超氧化物歧化酶(superoxide dismutase,SOD)活性和过氧化氢酶(catalase,CAT)活性明显高于对照。以上结果说明Os Msr16基因可能在植物防御盐胁迫过程中发挥重要作用。     

Genetics of esterase isoenzymes in Malus

Summary Three main zones of esterase activity (EST-I, EST-III, EST-IV) identified in leaf extracts of cultivated apple and Malus species were determined by the genes EST-1, EST-3 and EST-4, respectively. In addition to earlier reported alleles of EST-1 (a, b) three further bands c, d and f were identified in the EST-I zone of which c was found to be determined by an allele, c. Two alleles, a, b, and a null allele were found for both the genes EST-3 and EST-4. Differences in allelic frequency were observed between cultivars, rootstocks and Malus species. Allele EST-1a was rare amongst the rootstocks. The examination of Malus species and derivatives showed a geographical relationship. Allele EST-1c was confined to species of Asian origin, and EST-1d was confined to American species.     

Removal of wastewater pathogen indicators in a constructed wetland in Leon, Spain

This paper studies the seasonal presence and removal of the pathogenous micro-organisms Escherichia coli, total coliforms (TC), Clostridium perfringens (Cp), faecal streptococci (FS), Giardia cysts, Cryptosporidium oocysts and helminth eggs, in a constructed wetland treatment system. The removal efficiency of this system with respect to the indicator micro-organisms achieved maximum values in spring and autumn at 99.9% for E. coli and TC, respectively, in winter at 97.0% for FS, in summer at 100% for Clostridium and throughout the year, also at 100%, in the case of Giardia cysts, Cryptosporidium oocysts and helminth eggs. In general, very low protozoan and helminth egg counts were found, and the system demonstrated efficient reduction of the wastewater indicator pathogens.     

New species and new combinations in Peruvian Orchidaceae

seventeen new species and combinations are proposed in the generaChondrorhyncha, Cischweinfia, Cochlioda, Eloyella, Encyclia, Kefersteinia, Koellensteinia, Macroclinium, Rodriguezia, Solenidiopsis, andStenia. All new species are illustrated. A key is provided for 2-flowered species ofMacroclinium, PeruvianSigmatostalix, and PeruvianStenia. Solenidium (Solenidiopsis) peruvianum Schltr. is lectotypified.     

Inbreeding in a french peasant population

Genealogical pedigrees were collected from 976 farming couples who lived in a canton of central France in the XIXth and XXth century. Several methods (genealogical, isonymic and probability of origin of genes) were used to appraise the evolution of the biological structure of this population, which has gone through two phases. The first phase from 1800 to the World War I, shows gene flows between the farming population of the canton and those of neighbouring rural districts which are linked to an increase in consanguineous marriages. The second phase, from 1920 onwards, shows important gene flow from distant areas. This trend implies a decrease in consanguineous marriages.     

Phylogenetic relationships in theCampanulales based onrbcL sequences

Phylogenetic relationships within the angiosperm orderCampanulales were investigated by comparative sequencing of the chloroplast generbcL. CompleterbcL sequences were obtained for ten species in six families within the order. These data were analyzed along with previously publishedrbcL sequences from other taxa (for a total of 117 species) within the subclassAsteridae and outgroups, producing 32 equally parsimonious trees. A subset consisting of 44 of these taxa was then chosen and more rigorous analyses performed, resulting in four equally parsimonious trees. Results indicate that two major clades roughly corresponding to traditionally circumscribedAsterales andCampanulales exist as sister taxa. In particular, therbcL trees indicate thatSphenoclea is not a member ofCampanulales orAsterales, thatPentaphragma is more closely allied toAsterales thanCampanulales, that theCyphiaceae are not monophyletic, thatCampanulaceae andLobeliaceae are not sister taxa, and thatStylidiaceae are correctly placed withinCampanulales.     

Callus,shoot and hairy root formation in vitro as affected by the sensitivity to auxin and ethylene in tomato mutants

We analyzed the impact of ethylene and auxin disturbances on callus, shoots and Agrobacterium rhizogenes-induced hairy root formation in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). The auxin low-sensitivity dgt mutation showed little hairy root initiation, whereas the ethylene low-sensitivity Nr mutation did not differ from the control Micro-Tom cultivar. Micro-Tom and dgt hairy roots containing auxin sensitivity/biosynthesis rol and aux genes formed prominent callus onto media supplemented with cytokinin. Under the same conditions, Nr hairy roots did not form callus. Double mutants combining Rg1, a mutation conferring elevated shoot formation capacity, with either dgt or Nr produced explants that formed shoots with little callus proliferation. The presence of rol + aux genes in Rg1 hairy roots prevented shoot formation. Taken together, the results suggest that although ethylene does not affect hairy root induction, as auxin does, it may be necessary for auxin-induced callus formation in tomato. Moreover, excess auxin prevents shoot formation in Rg1.     

ERECTA is required for protection against heat-stress in the AS1/ AS2 pathway to regulate adaxial-abaxial leaf polarity in Arabidopsis

In seed plants, formation of the adaxial–abaxial polarity is of primary importance in leaf patterning. Since Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. genes ASYMMETRIC LEAVES1 (AS1) and ASYMMETRIC LEAVES2 (AS2) are key regulators in specifying adaxial leaf identity, and ERECTA is involved in the AS1/AS2 pathway for regulating adaxial–abaxial polarity [L. Xu et al. (2003) Development 130:4097–4107], we studied the physiological functions of the ERECTA protein in plant development. We analyzed the effects of different environmental conditions on a special leaf structure in the as1 and as2 mutants. This structure, called the lotus-leaf, reflects a severe loss of adaxial–abaxial polarity in leaves. Higher concentrations of salt or other osmotic substance and lower temperature severely affected plant growth both in the wild type and the mutants, but did not affect lotus-leaf frequency in the as1 and as2 mutants. as1 and as2 mutants exhibited a very low lotus-leaf frequency at 22°C, a temperature that favors Arabidopsis growth. The lotus-leaf frequency rose significantly with an increase in growth temperature, and only in plants that are in the erecta mutation background. These results suggest that ERECTA function is required for reducing plant sensitivity to heat stress during adaxial–abaxial polarity formation in leaves.Abbreviations AS1, AS2 ASYMMETRIC LEAVES1, 2 - ER ERECTA     

Comparison between the allergenic airborne pollen in Trieste and at Lozzo di Cadore (Italy) in 1989

Summary A comparative study was carried out between aeroallergenic pollen spectra in Trieste and at Lozzo di Cadore. The two localities were found to be different on a five-day running mean basis as to the 8 pollen taxa monitored by the National Aerobiological Monitoring Network managed by the Italian Association of Aerobiology (AIA). In the zone of Lozzo the pollination curve of the spring flowering taxa showed a lag of about one month due to the colder climate. Lozzo di Cadore showed a poor airborne pollen content,Corylus and Graminaceae being prevailing. Trieste has a higher airborne pollen diversity and longer pollination times because of its higher floristic and vegetational complexity. In Trieste the allergenic pollen spectrum showed great quantities ofOstrya, Quercus, Oleaceae, Graminaceae and of ruderal taxa, widespread over the area, due to man's influence.     

Vermicomposting in the management of pig-waste in Hong Kong

The treatment and disposal of pig-waste in Hong Kong has received much attention in recent years but, following any of the presently used treatment processes, solids remain to be further stabilized. Vermicomposting is a waste stabilization technique which converts waste into potentially recyclable materials such as worm protein and worm casts. The earthworm, Pheretima asiatica, can stabilize most of the solids arising from the treatment of pig-waste, including raw pig manure, suggesting that vermicomposting has a high potential as a unit process in the management of pig-waste in Hong Kong.S.H. Wong is with the Environmental Protection Department, Hong Kong; and D.A. Griffiths is with the Department of Botany, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.